Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Austin Jackson Among Top Center Fielders Defensively in 2012

In previous posts, I took the Revised Zone Rating (RZR) and Out-of-Zone Plays (OOZ) metrics listed at FanGraphs
and converted them to runs based on an algorithm developed by Colin
Wyers a few years ago. Links to these posts are provided below:

Now, I'm going to to do the run conversion for center fielders. Table 1
below contains the following information for 22 MLB center fielders with 800
or more innings in 2012:

Inn = Innings

RZR = Revised Zone Rating

OOZ = Out-of-Zone Plays

PIZAA = Plays in Zone Above Average

OOZAA = Out-of-Zone Plays Above Average

PMAA = Total Plays Above Average

RSAA = Runs Saved Above Average

Minnesota Twins center fielder Denard Span led the majors with +24 Runs Saved Above Average. Next was Braves outfielder Michael Bourn at +18. Both Span (+22 plays) and Bourn (+24) were especially good outside the zone. The worst center fielder by this metric was B.J. Upton of the Rays (-29 RSAA)

Tigers center fielder Austin Jackson tied for third with Angel Pagan of the Giants with +17 RSAA. Jackson was only +4 plays over average in the center field zone, but was +17 outside the zone. He also rated well well on Defensive
Runs Saved (+5) and Baseball Prospectus'
Fielding Runs Above Average (+9).